Ryan made the comments in a radio interview less than 24 hours after a gunman killed at least 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The suspected shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was taken into custody Wednesday.

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Ryan called the shooting “horrific,” and said that he thinks Congress needs to wait for more facts about the shooter’s motivation and past criminal record.

“I think we need to pray, and our hearts go out to these victims,” Ryan said. “And I think, as public policymakers, we don’t just knee-jerk before we even have all the facts and the data.”

Students who survived the shooting appeared on CNN Thursday morning pleading with Congress to take action to prevent another shooting.

“Please, this is the 18th one this year,” one student said. “That's unacceptable. We are children. You guys are the adults. You need to take some action and play a role. Work together, come over your politics and get something done.”